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Remote Desktop Connection on Windows 11

Anonymous
2025-01-17T02:56:41+00:00

I am trying to set up RDC on My desktop and laptop. So far, I am attempting to access my desktop from my laptop. Both are on the same network. Both have RDC enabled. Both of these computers are in my home. I try to logon to my desktop from my laptop using RDC and get the message "Remote Desktop cannot find computer - Desktop". I did the simple basic setup steps, the computers are internet connected but the connection is not being made. What is missing?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Internet and connectivity

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-18T14:39:38+00:00

    Dear Ted MacDonald1!

    Welcome to the Microsoft Community!

    If you get the error "Remote Desktop cannot find computer" when trying to set up a remote desktop connection on Windows 11, it could be for one of the following reasons:

    Make sure the computer name or IP address you entered is correct. Computer names are not case sensitive, but must match exactly. An incorrect computer name or IP address can also prevent a connection from working properly.

    Although both computers are on the same network, make sure they can communicate with each other. You can try the following steps to check network connectivity:

    In the Command Prompt (or PowerShell), use ping or ping to check connectivity between the two computers.

    If you are using a dynamic IP address, make sure the IP address of the desktop computer has not changed.

    Firewall settings for Windows remote connections Make sure the firewall settings on both computers allow remote desktop connections. You may need to allow remote desktop traffic in the firewall.

    Remote Desktop Services not being started can also be one of the reasons for not being able to connect properly. On the desktop computer, make sure the Remote Desktop service is running. You can check this by following the steps below:

    Open the Run dialog box (Win + R), type services.msc, and then press Enter.

    Find Remote Desktop Services in the list of services and check if its status is "Running".

    Remote Desktop Settings: Make sure that remote connections are allowed on the desktop computer. You can check this by following these steps:

    Open System Properties (right-click This PC and select Properties, or access it through Control Panel).

    Switch to the Remote tab and make sure that "Allow remote connections to this computer" is checked.

    User Account: Make sure that you are using a user account that has remote desktop login privileges. By default, only administrator accounts can log in remotely.

    Network Discovery and File Print Sharing: Make sure that network discovery and file print sharing are enabled on both computers.

    If none of the above steps can solve the problem, you can try the following additional steps:

    Open Network and Sharing Center on both computers and make sure that the network type is set to Private instead of Public.

    If you are in a domain environment, you may need to configure Remote Desktop settings through the Group Policy Editor.

    Then if you are an individual user and you really don't know how to do it, you can try using some third-party desktop sharing applications, which can also have a good experience, such as TeamViewer.

    If the problem persists, you may need more detailed network diagnostics or check the system log for error information. I hope these suggestions help you solve your problem.

    If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know. Tell me the results. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

    Thank you for your understanding and support! 

    I wish you all the best.

    Best regards,

    Yang.Z - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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